New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-09
Maud, family, after an instant s blank

80, Maud. what shall wedo'' mo an
ed Mrs. Estabrook, sinking back into
u seat. And we have actually in
vited him to tea "a burglar! Well,
for friend, | thought he seemed very
uncertain about Tom"
81 noticed that, too," answered
Maud, with bent brow, recalling GER
tain unreadiness OF tone and manner
which had struck her as strange at
the time. Mamma" she continued,
eve must send Bridget or Maggie over
to the village for help =
"No," almost screamed Mrs. Esta-
brook. mot another person must
leave the house! O, how could Peter
choose the very day Tom was gone?
When he knows how nervous I am,
too!-and to think I told that-the
desperate out there, that there WASH t
man about the place! Maud Maud!
what shall we do!''
II think have a plan, mamma"
said Maud, raising her head from her
brown study. ''Wait a moment
She flew upstairs and down again.
'.Now come out on the piazza. He
mustn't suspect any thing"
The two ladies rejoined their unwel-
come guest, and Mrs. Estabrook rush
ed into feverish conversation with
him. But her talk was Of a. singular
ly warlike kind, turning mainly upon
revolvers, and the proficiency attained
in the use Of these deadly weapons by
Bridget and Maggie, two unsophisticat-
ed hand-maidens, who. in fact, would
not have known a toy pistol from a.
gatling gun. Maud, in spite Of her ten
sion OF anxiety, grew speechless with
laughter behind her fan as she listened,
turtively watching the strangers face
and noting it's just-controlled uneasi-
ness. Finally, like one who takes a
resolution, be began abruptly, II real
ly am in a very false position y
20, | beg your pardon, Mr.. Folliott"
quickly interposed Maud, fearing that,
in his rising suspicious, she would lose
her carefully prepared coup. "If you
would like to remove any ofthel linger-
ing dust of travel, you have just time
before tea.
The young man rose at this hint,
and Maud, volunteering to show the
way, accompanied him up the broad
staircase, and smilingIy indicated the
room where his knapsack had been
left: No sooner had he stepped with
in than, quick as flash, the girl shut
the door and locked it on the out
side, where she had already placed
the key. Then she leaned against the
wall, and listened to the movements
OF the entrapped burglar.
For a few moments there was per-
feet stiffness, as if he were trying to
realize the meaning OF that click of the
lock; then she heard him 90 to the
door and turn the handle, first softly,
then louder and louder. Maud clasp
ed her hands tightly together, feeling
almost hysterical between laughter
and nervousness. Then the rattling
stopped, and a. voice said, slowly:
"Miss Estbrook! Are you still there?"
eyes" answered Maud, holding her
breath. "a
"You are not aware that you have
locked me in?"
Maud hesitated for an instant.
But since the explanation must come,
1t might as we'll come at once. "Yes"
she answered, clearly; II did it inten-
tionally."
"In-deed!" The blended accent of
this word made her feel hysterical
again. "Perhaps you would not
mind telling me Why you did it?'' .
"Because you are BURGLAR" ans
wered the girl, concisely.
There was an indistinct mutter
which might or might not have been
an expletive. Then, after silence,
the voice inquired, quite formally:
"And might ask what you mean to
do with me?' ~
"Keep you shut up here until my
brother or the gardener comes back;
and then"
eyes, and then"
"Then," replied Maud, with a. sud-
den inspiration, eve will let you 90 if
you go peaceably."
There was a sound OF suppressed
laughter at this. Then the voice re.
joined politely: "Thanks. l will give
you any assurances you require"
Maud went down to the dining
room, where she busted herself in
packing a basket. After this, return
ing up stairs, she called to her prison
er:
"Mr.-Mr. Folliott!''
"Yes?"
III you will open the closet you will
find rope. Please let it down, and
we will send you up some supper"
The stranger obeyed, and a we'll
filled basket was soon lifted through
the window into his room. Maud
Hospitality hoped he had verything
he wished.
Thanks; not quite" was the delib-
crate answer. ''If / might ask for a
couple of Toms cigars?"
'"Tom, indeed! The wretch!' COM
mented Toms sister to herself. Then,
aloud: "Oh, certainly if you will let
the basket down again. .
At this point Mrs. Estabrook re-
monstrated. Really, Maud, that is
too much''
"Oh, mamma. anything to keep him.
quiet and good-tempered," said Mand.
"'And you know. he was to have taken
tea with u.s.